Carr and Purves v Thomas [2009] NSWCA 208

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Carr and Purves v Thomas [2009] NSWCA 208

HEARING DATE(S): 22 April 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 23 July 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Ipp JA at 1; McColl JA at 1

The following orders and directions are made in each matter: (1) Grant leave to appeal; (2) Appeal allowed; DECISION: (3) Set aside the orders made by the trial judge; (4) Order that the notice of motion for summary dismissal of the cross-claim be dismissed; (5) Order the respondent to pay the appellants' costs at first instance and on appeal. The respondent is to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 in respect of the costs of the appeal, if otherwise entitled; (6) Direct the appellants to file a notice of appeal and pay any applicable filing fee thereon.

CATCHWORDS: EQUITY – deed – effect of release of one of several persons liable to the person granting the release in a deed – whether agreement was a covenant not to sue – whether it was a release of all obligations such that all parties were released from liability - EQUITY – deed – co-ordinate liability – covenant not to sue – whether the party with the benefit of the covenant could be made subject of a claim of contribution by others with co-ordinate liability to the "releasor".

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Albion Insurance Co Ltd v Government Insurance Office (NSW) [1969] HCA 55; (1969) 121 CLR 342 Baxter v Obacelo Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 66; (2001) 205 CLR 635 Burke v Lfot Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 17; (2002) 209 CLR 282 Cluness v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (Federal Court of Australia, Davies J, 17 April 1998, unreported) Commercial Bank of Tasmania v Jones [1893] AC 313 Deanplan Ltd v Mahmoud & Anor (1993) Ch 151; [1992] 3 All ER 942 Dorgal Holdings Pty Ltd v Buckley (1996) 22 ACSR 164 Duck v Mayeu [1892] 2 QB 511 Herskope v Perpetual Trustee (WA) Ltd [2002] NSWCA 153 James v Surf Road Nominees Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 475 CASES CITED: Jeans v Bruce [2004] NSWSC 539 Johnson v Davies [1999] Ch 117; [1998] 2 All ER 649 Murray-Oates v Jjadd Pty Ltd [1999] SASC 537; (1999) 76 SASR 38 National Australia Bank Limited v Pollak [2001] FCA 1408; (2001) 186 ALR 44 Perpetual Trustees (WA) Ltd v Equuscorp Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 1120 Pollak v National Australia Bank Limited [2002] FCAFC 55; [2002] FCA 237 Re EWA [1901] 2 KB 642 Resource Equities Limited v Leon Carr Resource Equities Limited v John Garrett [2008] NSWSC 977 Robinson v Tait [2002] 2 NZLR 30 Solly v Forbes (1820) 2 Brod & Bing 38; 129 ER 871 Thompson v Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd [1996] HCA 38; (1996) 186 CLR 574 Walker v Bowry [1924] HCA 28; (1924) 35 CLR 48